I like to do this every once in a long time. It’s a look at Oilers prospects, age 20, in the AHL. I look at forwards, in search of clues about predicting future success. For skill forwards, games played is a key.
If a player lasts 100 games in the AHL, he may not be an NHL skill forward. For checkers and rugged types, I look for year over year improvement. There heroes of this story are Pisani, Chimera and the group who could deliver across 200 feet. It’s a lesson for us in regard to the current Condors.
- Tyler Benson (18-19 Bakersfield Condors) 68gp, 15-51-66 .97 Benson was an exceptional rookie, aided by fellow rookie (21 years old) Cooper Marody. The stated reason for keeping him on the farm was to have a full and healthy season, but he was never a threat for full time NHL work. The boots failed him.
- Matt Savoie (24-25 Bakersfield Condors) 66gp, 19-35-54 .82 ppg. He really should have been in the NHL in 2024-25, but Ken Holland would have slowplayed Gretzky I swear. Anyway, he shone like a diamond and delivered, for my money, the best full season by an Oilers prospect forward this century.
- Rob Schremp (06-07 SWB Penguins) 69gp, 17-36-53 .768ppg Schremp had a tough first year pro, getting benched a few times and was a healthy scratch a few times too. His coach did have some nice things to say about him and Oilers fans were certain he would be a star. Boots.
- Jarret Stoll (02-03 Hamilton Bulldogs) 76gp, 21-33-54 .711ppg Stoll had a big shot and often played the point, but he also had two-way skills and a fairly complete game. He was traded at 25. One of the best NHL careers in the group of men who played for Edmonton’s AHL farm teams age 20.
- Marc Pouliot (05-06 Hamilton Bulldogs) 65gp, 15-30-45 .692ppg Pouliot played on a shared team (like Stoll) and put up excellent results. Injuries impacted his career progress and he would finish with fewer than 200 NHL games.
- Jean Francois Jacques (05-06 Hamilton Bulldogs) 65gp, 24-20-44 .677ppg Jacques had a helluva pro debut and his size and speed made him a promising prospect. He lost a lot of momentum due to back injuries and may have lacked ‘hockey sense’. Most famous for a stunning scoreless streak as an NHL rookie.
- Kailer Yamamoto (18-19 Bakersfield Condors) 27gp, 10-8-18 .67 ppg Yamamoto is one of my favourite players from the modern era. He bombed along in the AHL, turning over pucks and creating chances for linemates. He emerged as a legit NHL player and posted a 20-goal season in 2021-22.
- Dylan Holloway (21-22 Bakersfield Condors) 33gp, 8-14-22 .67ppg His scoring rates in the AHL as a rookie may have been suppressed by two offseason surgeries on his hand. Holloway is a quality NHL player on his way to one of the best careers in this group.
- Teemu Hartikainen (10-11 Oklahoma City Barons) 66gp, 17-25-42 .636ppg The big Finn was a pure delight and the first 20-year old AHL forward in a couple of years to show up on the radar. He was a little shy on speed but I loved his hands and spirit.
- Kyle Brodziak (04-05 Edmonton Roadrunners) 56gp, 6-26-32 .571. Brodziak has a nice combination of size and skill. His AHL debut at 20 came on a very poor offensive team. He improved during his entry deal, finally emerging as a legit NHL player about the time Edmonton traded him.
- Jani Rita (01-02 Hamilton Bulldogs) 76gp, 25-17-42 .553ppg I thought Jani Rita would make it, swear to God. I remember at WJC goal he scored (it was real, and it was spectacular). He could score (63 in 204 AHL games) but didn’t receive serious consideration for an NHL job.
- Slava Trukhno (07-08 Springfield Falcons) 64GP, 14-21-35 .547ppg. I loved his passing, Trukhno could really find the lane. He had a nice debut but was a bit of wide body skater and I don’t think Edmonton had a tremendous need for a slower skill LW at the time.
- Xavier Bourgault (22-23 Bakersfield Condors) 63gp, 13-21-34 .54 ppg. He didn’t develop much from his rookie season, but maybe he gets a chance in a depth role in Otttawa.
- Raphael Lavoie (20-21 Bakersfield Condors) 19gp, 5-5-10 .53 ppg. Disappointing numbers for a player who had the best shot in the group since Jarret Stoll. Still has a chance (VGK), but is a distant bell at this point.
- Bogdan Yakimov (14-15 Oklahoma City Barons) 57gp, 12-16-28 .491 ppg Big man with some skill, foot speed was the concern and he didn’t play long in the Oilers system.
- Marco Roy (15-16 Bakersfield Condors) 48gp, 8-12-20 .480 ppg Roy didn’t get an NHL deal from the Oilers, but outplayed the forwards who did get one. A true curio, he was a two-way center and a second-round pick.
- Josh Winquist (14-15 Oklahoma City Barons) 46gp, 8-11-19 .413ppg. Impressive offense from a player who didn’t get much of a push (or an NHL contract).
- Ryan McLeod (19-20 Bakersfield Condors) 56gp, 5-18-23 .41ppg McLeod’s speed was the big selling point early, but he developed into a legit NHL player. Oilers have been trying to find a No. 3 center since the day they traded him.
- Tyler Tullio (22-23 Bakersfield Condors) 63gp, 13-13-26 .41 ppg He had nice range as a player, but the organization was slow to recognize him and much of his rookie season was spent far from where he should have been. He’s 24 now, still hasn’t played an NHL game but I’m cheering for him.
- Phil Cornet (10-11 Oklahoma City Barons) 60gp, 7-16-23 .383ppg. He looked like a tweener from the start, and his AHL debut showed he was shy offensively.
- Tyler Pitlick (11-12 Oklahoma City Barons) 62gp, 7-16-23 .371ppg. He scored pretty well in his WHL season, many of the goals at even strength. Injuries impacted his career but he fought through them and made the NHL. A personal favourite.
- Greg Chase (15-16 Bakersfield Condors) 19gp, 1-6-7 .37 Chase had impressive junior numbers and there was some buzz about him. The AHL totals age 20 suggested an NHL career wasn’t imminent.
- Kyle Platzer (15-16 Bakersfield Condors) 48gp, 6-11-17 .35ppg Platzer had a nice range of skills and some impressive junior numbers. Offense wasn’t enough to get him a feature role in the AHL.
- Ryan Martindale (12-13 Oklahoma City Barons). 41gp, 6-8-14 .341 He showed well in a couple training camps, you could see the size being an advantage and he could pass the puck. He didn’t deliver enough offense in the minors.
- Curtis Hamilton (11-12 Oklahoma City Barons). 41gp, 5-6-11 .268ppg. A wildly disappointing pro debut based on his final junior season, Hamilton never did get untracked during his entry level deal. Improved in year four and made it to the NHL but more was expected.
- Matvey Petrov (23-24 Bakersfield Condors). 53, 9-5-14 .26ppg. Petrov was a wonder on shootouts and impressive on the penalty kill. He didn’t do near enough in the heart of the even-strength game.
- Kirill Maksimov (19-20 Bakersfield Condors). 53gp, 5-8-13 .25 ppg. Maksimov had some strong support coming out of junior, but the only forwards from this group who scored at similar (or lower) levels were enforcer types.
- Carter Savoie (22-23 Bakersfield Condors) 44gp, 8-3-11 .25ppg He had a plus shot but couldn’t get much ice time as an AHL rookie. That’s a tell,
- Jayden Grubbe (23-24 Bakersfield Condors) 67gp, 8-6-14 .21ppg. A big center who could be intimidating because of size and hitting ability. He couldn’t impact the offense and was moved to the Canucks organization.
- Jujhar Khaira (14-15 Oklahoma City Barons) 51gp, 4-6-10 .196ppg. He enjoyed one of the most productive NHL careers on this list. Offense always a problem, Khaira was an effective checker and brought and edge to every shift.
- Travis Ewanyk (13-14 Oklahoma City Barons) 68gp, 7-5-12 .176ppg. Ewanyk had a lot of nice things but the offense in junior foretold his pro future.
- Zack Stortini (05-06 Iowa/Milwaukee) 64gp, 2-8-10 .156ppg Low event offensive player. Got all he could out of his career and should be remembered as a guy MacT played over many more talented kids.
- Mitch Moroz (14-15 Oklahoma City Barons) 66gp, 5-4-9 .136ppg. Big man came off injury at the end of the Memorial Cup and then had some issues in the AHL, among them ice time. His offensive game was never going to be enough for an NHL career.
- Connor Clattenburg (25-26 Bakersfield Condors) 32gp, 2-2-4 .125 ppg. An absolute outlier who can crash and bang but also has good hands around the net. If he can stay healthy, avoid trying to do too much (like transport the puck and fight every game), Clattenburg could be effective. I think he has enough scoring talent to push for NHL time, and enough physical intimidation to get noticed by a coach. We’ll see.
- Kale Kessy (13-14 Oklahoma City Barons) 54gp, 2-4-6 .111ppg Enforcer who didn’t move the needle offensively.
A CONVERSATION
Man there’s a lot of misses there. Every team has them. I think the lessons here are don’t slow play Savoie (or Evan Bouchard) when it’s clear they are capable, and don’t draft or trade for slow boots.
Like Tyler Benson? Yes. Benson could play. He was an exceptional passer. His foot speed cost him an NHL career. Pretty sure.
Benson was like Schremp and Hartikainen? Yes, although each man has his story and I do think we should respect their efforts. Schremp posted 1.84 pts-60 at five-on-five for the 2009-10 New York Islanders. He had a 50 percent goal share and 53 percent expected goal share that season. Teemu Hartikainen had an severe offensive slump at exactly the wrong time (zero points five-on-five in 194 minutes in 2012-13), then went to the KHL where he was productive forever. Benson, same thing. These are good hockey players, skating dashed their hopes.
Kind of strange you endorse both Savoie and Clattenburg. Different talents. I’ve said this many times, but the AHL isn’t a league Savoie should be playing in. The only thing that could happen to him is injury. He can skate, has puck skills and a great brain. Why risk that player to some sfb who decides a Tuesday in Syracuse is a good time to end a career. Cooper Marody got screwed just that way.
On the Lowdown today, Shawn Belle is our guest and I’m going to ask him about the minor leagues and finding a coach who believes in you. I see shy skill that made it (Stortini) and impressive skill with good speed that did not (Rita) and wonder. Belle will help us understand. It’s the roundtable today, so turn in and watch me take massive verbal blows, noon to 2pm Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Stauff again brings up the possibility of a small move to get a right shot center with a low acquisition cost.
I think he’s getting at a Stastney trade as he did say again “something needs to give with the D” as he thinks Stastney is 8 and Regula 9 (as does everyone).
I don’t think this is a Lazar sign. They didn’t trust him on the PK last year, even to take PK draws as the season went on.
I also not sure about another depth forward when then already need to cut two left forward options.
Thanks for the updates. Im glad it sounds like Emberson isnt going anywhere, there has been a strange amount of speculation from fans and OilersNation people about him being moved and it makes absolutely no sense to me. 1.3M for a very good 3RD. I didn’t realize Hes a pending UFA though, will be interesting to see if we can keep him – he could get a nice raise
I don’t imagine trading Emberson unless it’s a legit upgrade on him (i.e Whiteclud for 3RD. He is more than value for his $1.3MM – pending UFA is a thing.
Puckpedia has 75 signed listed as Right-Shot Centres with a surprising number of them that don’t really play centre (Savoie, Hyman and Kapanen on the Oilers for instance). There are 4 UFAs (Luke Kunin, Luke Glendening, Calle Jarnkrok, Curtis Lazar) and they all would be cheap (they scored 33 points TOTAL among the 4 of them).
Assuming that we’re looking at a player with 30 points or less, 25 or older and that didn’t sign a contract in 2026, and makes less than $3M that leaves us with 9 players. Glass, Gaudette, Gaudreau, Evans, Kastelic, Carrick, Blackwell, Appleton and Bjugstad.
They can (and might) push Samanski and Howard to the AHL until injuries hit but outside of Kirby Dach, I don’t know that they’ll find a huge upgrade on Samanski for a “low aquisition cost”
Kevin Stenlund took the most shorthanded faceoffs in the league last year (by far) and had a 49.5% win rate. He also took the most defensive zone faceoffs too (all situations) and posted a 57.5% win rate.
Stenlund signed a 2.75Mx1 deal on July 1st with Utah. I don’t see him being traded in the fall.
Good information and I agree with the premise, I don’t seen the need to add here, in particular with Samanski available for the roll – the more we hear, the more I think the “plan” is to start Samanski in the AHL which I think will be a kick in the nuts given his season last year, his Olympics, his playoffs and his World Championships – he’s read to take another step and has more to give.
I think we can expect Janmark as one of the 13F with Samanski and Jones the “cuts”.
Someone like Mathew Poitras could shake lose from Boston. They might need d depth.
A Stastney for Poitras trade strikes me as reasonable.
Sure but we’ve discussed this before as Al has brought him up on both platforms.
Poitras is currently an AHL player that would be subject to waivers. I don’t see why we would keep him on the NHL roster over Samanski except that Sam does not need to clear waivers – I don’t see evidence that he’s a better player than Samanski.
I like Semanski plenty, but Poitras resides in a different zip code.
Semanski is already 24. He had 4 points in 24 NHL games.
Poitras is 22, from Savoie’s draft. He already has 27 points in 69 NHL games.
Gerry Johansen said no talks yet worth the Oilers on a Savoie extension but that’s just because the team has been focussed so far this offseason on building this year’s team for win now. He has no concern, says Savoie loves being an Oiler and he’s sure they’ll get down to it sooner rather than later.
As an aside, for those still hoping to bring Evander Kane back, Bob was asked if there is a chance and he used the term “long shot” to say no “been there and done that”.
Yesterday, Stauff pressed DJ Snith on if Ek and Bouch have to play together and Smith was no -committal, of course, and said they will do what’s best for the team as a whole and they also need to try multiple things so they have known options when change gets forced.
Today Bob said that he could see, after some time, maybe 20 games or so, the following:
Shea/Bouchard
Ekholm/Murphy
Walman/Shakir
He cited once 2nd pair as a shutdown pair. I would personally note that Shea thrived with Letang last season in top 4 role and, from Pit fans, Letang is a shadow of himself and a poor defensive rover these days.
He brought this up again later but added Walman with Shakir or Emberson.
Again, his proposal is these pairing in time – his opening pairing are as we all think.
The Carolina team didn’t need a hard ass to get the job done .Ron Brind Amour is not a Babcock . Im still puzzled why Hyman McDavid think they need a coach that treats them harshly to do their multi million dollar jobs. If one of my staff told me he wasn’t doing his job to the best of his abilities because I wasn’t yelling at him or treating him abusively then I would have a issue with that .Well actually I’d probably get him some help . KK didn’t fail as a coach he may have failed as a physiologist though.
Psychologist? Not sure these guys need help w physiology, but I’m still learning on the job, as a fan.
Mike Babcock has a diploma in Sports Psychology…….😁
So many focus on Babcock being a “hard ass” but don’t seems to attribute value to the facts that he’s also known as a very elite Xs and Os guy, that implements and requires structure in all zones and game states – something Oiler fans want. He does not play his stars huge minutes, something Oilers fans have been screaming for. He provides roles for all players on his roster and ensures everyone is part of the team and engaged.
I know we like to rag on Holland here but it seems a bit much to blame him for slow playing Savoie when he was gone before we even acquired him…
Broberg, 100% – drafted him, blocked him, continue to add to block him once he was ready.
Holloway, no – he got all sorts of chances and chances in the top six – he needed his development time.
Savoie – developed perfectly by the org so far (although I think he could have been given a top 6 opportunity earlier last season).
Agreed on all of these. I would also say JJ went on to block Holloway that summer when he signed Perry/Skinner/Arvidsson after Holloway had shown he could easily be a top 9 player. he can’t have felt great watching all those signings
Holloway was coming off a very meh playoffs where, once again, he was moved off the 2nd line due to ineffectiveness and mistakes.
I think the plan was to play him in the middle six even with the additions.
From accounts, while he signed the offer sheet, he didnt’ want to leave and presumed the Oilers would match.
I don’t think there was any room at all. They just resigned Brown, Janmark, Henrique, Arvi, Skinner and Perry.
I think he had a good playoffs. Scored 5 5v5 goals and was 58% goals and 50% xG, led the team in hits by a lot. Him and Leo were great together by the numbers actually.
He got moved off Leo’s line as the playoffs went on due to neutral zone mistakes…..
I would encourage you to take a look at Holloway’s 2024 playoffs vs. Podz’s 2025 and they aren’t close.
Ah! But we CAN blame him for slow playing Carter Savoie 😉
Respectfully disagree on Savoie not playing in the AHL for a season. I can’t quite understand why a Stanley Cup finalist would rush a teenager out of a fear of being hurt. Do career altering injuries happen more in the AHL than other leagues? I won’t argue the handling of Bouchard either, after seeing the player he’s become.
Samurokov must have just missed the list. Great big defensive prospect some said was ready for the NHL coming out of junior.
Then one NHL game and one big mistake and it was all over.
Hope hes doing well.
I always cheered for him too. Looks like he’s playing in the KHL for ЦСКА Москва (Red Army):
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=196000
Jordan Kyrou broke his ankles so badly.
I’m not sure I ever saw a d in the NHL get beat so badly, twice in one game.
I had high hopes for Samorukov that game.
Okay, it played out worse in my memory than the actual play in the game.
https://youtu.be/u60xn7ODsV8?si=LTfFMofO_Hp-ekc-
That pinch was demotion-worthy.
First one was a pretty clear case of Bouch taking all the risk and Sammy not recognizing the danger. It took a prime Ekholm to make that usable.
If he did a Niemelanen and just crushed a few people he mightve got a few more games.
Benson vs Holloway
Lots to like about Benson on draft day, had our scouting director losing sleep all night till he could pick him in the morning. The rest of the scouts seen the part about speed and did not project him as a first rounder at all. Benson had the numbers, but also fell to injury in junior.
They missed the speed in Kyrou and hands in Debrincat
Holloway was not picked by the numbers, but by speed and potential.
Im not saying don’t listen to math, I’m saying some qualities can project a players future more than others. Need fast boots!
Can’t believe they passed on the 50 goal OHL winger who played with McDavid in that draft…it seemed so obvious
He actually increased his scoring pace without McDavid too.
— I hope I’m wrong, I’m wrong lots. But I feel this deep in my balls
— I admire the hockey coda and believe in the sincerity of Hyman and McD etc when they sincerely state they need “heavy coaching”
— I just think they’ve been sold a “bill of goods”
— Maybe just being all in and recognizing that they need to be better in itself is the catalyst they need. : akin to an overweight person deciding they want to get fit: it’s not a trainer rather an internal change and commitment
— I just can’t believe Babs has in his repertoire what he needs to be selling for them to be buying.
— He hasn’t been a good coach in a long time and been out of league. But these players are for sure all in vouching for him.
— Please be wrong Kinger
Referring to yourself in the 3rd person?
Mike Babcock approves!
I mean Babcock was decent in Toronto. I don’t think he was out of the league because of ability. He was out of the league because no team thought the juice was worth the squeeze factoring in the negative PR.
That said, I am skeptical that Babcock is the answer. Same with DJ Smith.
It’s the combination Babcock along with DJ Smith that’s intriguing, like the Lone Ranger & Tonto.
They had that combination in Toronto for awhile and could not get out of the first round, maybe once.
DJ Smith as a young rookie assistant coach in the league – he’s a bit more experience now, you know, with a couple head coaching NHL jobs on his resume.
We learn from our mistakes.
— I don’t think missing playoffs them losing I. First round 3 times is “decent”. He was done.
— If we hired AJ as head coach I’d be floored so not sure why Babs and he are a good tandem
— When Kinger wakes up and thinks things are going to turn out bad some times you need to say : Kinger maybe your wrong and you just go out and execute and work hard and good things can happen
— But going back to the original point I made maybe it’s just finally the players are willling to do the hard work. : like an addict who is ready to stop: it’s internally driven.
— Press conferences will be great so there’s that.
Define decent.
He coached 4 seasons in Toronto, missed the playoffs once and lost in the first round 3 times despite having a star studded lineup.
His Toronto/Detroit teams didn’t advance beyond the first round since 2012/13.
I take the feedback from the players re-enforcement of my belief in real time that coach Knoblauch did not “take them to the final” but was certainly at the finals. First season the team jumped at the change. Set plays, more energy, creativity and we witnessed coaching changes for new opponents in a series. Then it dried up.
I think we see this jump again.
And the harder coaching, accountability also improves because they want it to. Babcock will wear out his welcome, but i do hope this occurs after the big prize is secured. .
Being a little older I think Hyman quietly has a lot of pull when it comes to the rest of the gang. I think if everyone does their job in a structured strategy that’s not foreign to anyone then this team will have success. No more 1:30 shifts for Leon-Connor in OT a better PK that takes pride. These 2 points I mentioned gets them 10 points in the standings.
I know the 4 or 5 stars are all in on this new coaching team but there is a whole lot more players on this team.. They are the worker bees that Babcock is know to treat a lot differently and as Carolina and their coaches have shown you have to have everyone on board not just 4 or 5 ..Im still on the sidelines with this coaching team no matter how much McDavid and Hyman double down on them ..We will see
One of my favourite memories watching the Oilers for 55 years is when we knocked off the mighty Red Wings. Winning game 6 was on pure guts. The best part of it was seeing that arrogant Babcock just boiling like a lobster on the bench and seeing Kenny Holland sitting by his lonesome wondering where the wheels fell off. I was bummed out when the Oilers hired Babcock but what are you going to do. It’s too late for me to pick a new team the Oilers could sell Connor-Leon tomorrow I’ll still think that a Hasek like performance wins them a Cup.
I don’t know what to expect.
Babcock has been out of the game for a while.
His last cup was on a stacked Red Wings team nearly twenty years ago.
Willis had posted some stats of his record and iirc 5v5 wasn’t great metrics, nor defensively.
He didn’t win a playoff series with a pretty decent Leafs roster.
On a positive note, he seems to be planning a modern hybrid zone system.
I like Knoblauch, but he seemed to lose the magic last year. He also didn’t have the answers for Florida.
Hard to separate the coach from the roster. Maurice didn’t do a lot with some good Jets rosters.
Amazon Prime and Rogers sign a 12 year deal for Prime to be the exclusive broadcaster of 26 Wednesday night national games in Canada.
https://www.nhl.com/news/prime-video-becomes-long-term-home-of-nhl-in-canada-for-wednesday-night-hockey
The masses are going to hate it but there is going to me more and more of this coming – it’s just ramping up and not going away.
At least Amazon Prime has significantly superior production standards and its on-air talent is of much higher quality.
One detail that might get overlooked is that Prime will have exclusive rights to TWO Canadian first round and ONE second round series involving Canadian teams.
Considering only Montreal, Ottawa and Edmonton made the playoffs last season, and only Montreal made it past the first round, it is possible that Prime, not Sportsnet will be the broadcaster of record in Canada.
It would be hilarious if the Leafs made the playoffs, and then lost in the second round with the potential for all their games to be broadcast on American-owned Prime Video.
Is it playoff broadcast rights for ‘two playoff series’ in Canada, or ‘two Canadian teams’? If it is the latter, no problem; if the former, no bueno.
Former, no problem; latter, no bueno. Oops
Consider which Canadian teams might make the playoffs and there could be little difference.
Its like using AI, once needs to verify everything that is posted from this platform. There is no specific right to series involving Canadian teams just to broadcast certain series exclusively in Canada.
JFresh
@JFreshHockey
awesome, when i paid the price rise for sportsnet+ i was really hoping to get access to even fewer games
Drink up me hearties, yo ho, off to IPTV we go!
I have been using IPTV for a year and a half now and haven’t missed any games…I would recommend to anyone!….costs me approx 18.00 a month for close to 4 thousand Chanels….absolutely with it!
I think I’m going to make the jump too. I’m paying far too much money to have access to the sports I want to see.
This. We lose access to games via public broadcaster, have our Sportsnet fees increased, lose access to significant number of regular and playoff games unless we pay for another streaming service. Ugh.
After this transaction, Roger’s should actually be cutting their prices but of course they won’t.
Does this mean the end of watching Bieska-Hrudey-Friedman-MacLean all cuddling up with each other on the same couch?
No.
I forgot to include the cutting of sports radio in Calgary and Vancouver.
The irony is cable tv was a much better system. I didn’t have to switch apps every time I wanted to change the channel
I really enjoy the looks back like this. It resets our expectations to be reasonable when assessing prospects. There isn’t yet a “will make it” or “won’t make it” for 20 year old AHL players. It’s a steep climb regardless of counting numbers but it’s also not impossible with bad counting numbers.
It’s interesting to me that some famous Oilers prospects with interesting stories were not in the AHL by age 20 either. Milan Kytnar just missed this list (AHL debut at 21) and then played in the ECHL, AHL, NHL and SM-Liiga at age 22. He isn’t the only Oilers prospect to get just one NHL game but he’s the only one I remember being recalled directly from the ECHL, playing one NHL Game, and leaving North America entirely immediately after that game. Five minutes with Ben Eager and Darcy Hordichuk was just too much, I guess.
i gotta say chalky is the best AHL development coach we had .. he learned how to balance winning and development
Woodie was the best . They should have left him there, he’ll never see another HC job in the NHL IMO.
Nelly was the best AHL development coach, and it is not even close.
What is this based on? The failures to develop: Hartakinan? Lander? Yakimov? Pajjarvi? Musil? Rajala? O’Mara? Omark?
Colin McDonald, Chris Vandevelde, Taylor Chorney, Martin Marincin, Jeff Petry, Mark Arcobello, Anton Lander, Brandon Davidson, Taylor Fedun, Brad Hunt, Jujhar Khaira, Irro Pakarinen
Not a single first round pick amongst them.
Justin Schultz’ mindblowing half season as a rookie pro. And the first round picks…Paajarvi, Pitlick, Klefbom
Total it all up, and it is three players per year for five years, with only three first round picks.
And I am leaving out all the players that had a cup of coffee or two.
My goodness, Paajarvi (1st round pick) and Pitlik both had NHL careers below expectations on draft days – those are development failures if anything- good grief.
Plus Jordan Oesterle.
and? where is the evidence that he “was the best AHL development coach and its not even close”?
Woody got Vinny D to the NHL.
Knob got Samanski to the NHL
I gave you 16 names…over three per year, 13 non-first round picks, two undrafted, two more which had been given up for “dead”.
You’ve given a bunch of names which don’t actually prove your point – some of which show evidence of poor development vis-a-vis draft position. Magnus P and T. Pitlick are not positive development stories.
Colin McDonald was a first half 2nd round pick who didn’t make play an NHL until he got another full year of development AFTER he was out from under Nelson and then had a very middling tweener career. Chris Vandevelde was never more of than a tweener until he got time in the AHL under a different coach.
Etc., etc.
In his first three years in the AHL, McDonald had around 10-12 goals per year. ELC over the Oilers signed him to an AHL deal. In his first year under Nelson, he had 42 goals in the AHL, which allowed him to extend his professional career and actually have an NHL career. No 150 game NHL career without Nelson.
The Oilers did not sign Vandevelde after his ELC. He made the NHL 2/3rds of the way through the season in his next NHL organization, and played basically three full seasons after that.
An AHL’er moving to another organization is unlikely to make another NHL team directly out of camp.
C’mon…lets have a few names of players that Chaulk as put into the NHL. Three and a half seasons…he should have around 10 to match Nelson, with 8 non-first rounders.
Samanski and who else? Savoie, 1st round pick. Who else is there?
You might also be correct in saying Nelly was the NHL development coach of the modern era, given the turnaround he orchestrated after MacT finished presiding over the bench.
Woody blew his load switching to a new strategy that had the Stanley Cup favourite in a 2-9-1 hole with all the country piling on. If Woody leaves things alone he probably wins a Cup. The refs straight up cheating on the Makar goal lost us that series. Woody should have let things be as we could outscore 90% of teams with the Av’s not being one of them.
I saw it as their over reliance on Smith moving the puck, never liked it. The Avs cut off the pass everyone knew was coming and the Oilers were constantly defending
Shots in the 4 games, all for the Avs:
47-37
40-24
43-29
42-35
The Av’s were on a mission from God nobody was stopping them even though Kane tried his best.
Woody had sone higher drafted prospects that popped but he was HIGHLY reliant on this vets as coach of the Condors.
I would suggest this applies to Issac Howard now.
He did everything asked of him last season, worked his ass off and developed massively in all the right areas – all while being a dynamic offensive player.
He’s earned that opportunity in the top 6. If it doesn’t work or he’s making the same mistakes over and over, pivot, but give this player the opportunity in the proper role. I mean we are talking about waiver claim Kasperi Kapanen over him in the top six. There is a clear spot.
Why play the dynamic offensive player with Jason Dickinson or put him back in the AHL to start.
Play him in the role his was acquired to play in.
I agree Reja
He really hasn’t earned anything yet. I’ve even heard him being compared to Nail Yakupov.
I guess we’ll see.
Did Nail ever see any time in the AHL?
He has 100% earned the opportunity to play in the NHL in the position representative of his skill set.
He can’t prove ready for it unless he’s provided the opportunity.
Why in the world would a guy like Issac Howard be put on a tough minutes shutdown type line with Jason Dickson over being put in the top 6? It doesn’t make sense.
If he’s making mistakes, and repeating them and/or its not working for whatever reason, they can pivot off and put Kap back on Leon’s wing but why would they start Kap with Leon and Howard with Dickinson, for example?
I totally agree that he needs to play in a top six role to succeed. However is it really all that uncommon for a young player of Howard’s skill set to cut their teeth with some defensive stalwarts to aid in development? Do you not think Howard could learn something of value from RNH & Dickinson? And do you not think it would improve his play working alongside Connor or Leon who I’m confident appreciate wingers that are capable defensively?
I wait and see the first quarter of a season you might get a player that’s a better fit. Teams will have injuries the first 20 games they may be looking for a shoot first PP winger. In other words pump and dump Howard for a big skilled Tom Wilson player that the Oilers need and desire.
I thought we booked Howard being traded with Nurse……. book it, no?
How about we pump Howard and then, you know, keep him and use him for two years of value ELC? I don’t think they are looking to trade this kid like you have been so certain of for 10 months now. They’ve traded for him and developed him and will likely look to have him impact on their team.
I thought that’s what the sweetener would be to unload Nurse contract outright. I wonder how close the Philly deal and if Howard was involved in it. The market switched to bullish overnight. Uncle Mikey wanted some veterans around that superstar kid Celebrini-Misa and a couple of really nice D prospects that can learn from Nurse and Trouba. I say Nurse has a fine year being the leader and seeing PP time.
Is it that rare? No, probably not but is it necessary or beneficial? I would also suggest probably not.
Its not like he’d be “sheltered” playing with Dickinson – I think the 3rd line will be used for tough minutes as opposed to playing opposition’s third lines.
I think Kap and Hyman, two very meh defensive players, could also learn from Dickinson and Nuge, right?
There is learning and then there is being put in a position to success (or not to succeed).
Hyman & Kapanen aren’t young developing players, they have been there and done that, but for Howard it certainly would. Don’t think for a moment that these veteran players won’t be working harder on the defensive side of their game, including McDavid & Draisaitl.
This could probably use an update
I mean, Bourgault could end up playing in the AHL at age 25 just like Yamamoto……
Yammo didn’t play in the AHL at age 25….
and yet he did https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0076012025.html
LOL… He was probably already 26 when he played those games for the Tucson Roadrunners..
I think you may be thinking too hard about my joke. Also, it seems you are probably correct and HockeyDB lied to me 🤣
Small, no special super power to compensate. Rarely works out for anything more than a mid level place holder if they even make it, like Yama. That on a mid team too boot
Yeah, Yamo is a 20-40 point scorer depending on opportunity, minutes, etc.. He’s above replacement level but not by a huge amount. NHL Edge has him as about an average skater and slower than he was 5 years ago.
That being said, he’s close to 400 games and incredibly likely to pass 500 or even 600.
He’s not a bad player, but he’s not great on a not great team. He’s a battler, he beat my expectations
I’ll add that because I was disappointed in the pick, I went and watched his highlights from the minors. It was largely him putting pucks into open nets no check from being set up. Didn’t think scoring would transfer
I read this as LT being so sad about the way that draft pick worked out that he couldn’t bring himself to update the paragraph to talk about the present day. Also, I was still kind of believing that Bourgault would take a step the next year and eventually turn into a middle six winger in the NHL eventually. How wrong I was.
Of note, in Connor’s comments yesterday he again mentioned how they have a coach that won’t be learning on the job – not exact words but my interpretation of the clear intent of the statement.
If we are being “mathy”:
The only coaches who have won Stanley Cups for two teams are few and far between. The last was the one of the greatest coach of all time. Scotty Bowman.
The odds are not in the Oilers favor.
Never tell me the odds!
-Han Solo
What does this comment have to do with anything.
The prior two coaches were 100% rookie head coaches in the NHL.
That must be pointing at his two previous head coaches.
I believe so, yes.
I don’t think it was meant as a “shot” at Woody or Knob but just noting they are looking forward to a head coach with lots of experience in the area, where they aren’t learning how to run an NHL training camp and how to adjust during a tough spell in the NHL, etc., etc.
McD is a great hockey player. That’s not up for debate.
What he knows about the bigger world of coaching is, however, questionable. (Although, to his credit, he’s experienced a LOT of pro coaches. This suggests that he’s had plenty of poor coaches, or that he’s been resistant to the “learning on the job” at least some of these coaches have required of him. Young men’s brains are remarkably bad at learning the deeper lessons, and more so when natural talents are prodigious …)
I would think that one of the premier qualities of both professional players and coaches is the capacity to be actively “learning on the job.” We know coach MB has success in the past. Is that success built on a formula, something other “learning-on-the-job” coaches will figure out? Or is that past success built on ability to adapt, “learning on the job,” as it were?
We shall see.
In the meantime, McD and his lieutenants are just saying words, wishfully thinking that this time they hoist the Cup.
As for those who say it’s unlikely coach MB hoists a Cup with a second team (Godot among them), I imagine that rests on his capacity to be “learning on the job.” And, again, we shall see.
The phrase ” now is the time for something completely different ” is in context here.
We shall see.
From me it’ll be the same old same old: No Cup for McD until he plays 200 feet. And I don’t care to hear a word from him until he does. (I’m guessing he’d rather not have to say a word until then either.)
Houston we finally have Goaltending. It took a year longer than it should have but all my phone call messages and letters to Bowman have paid off. We are both going to get a front row view of the importance of the G position.
I never said goaltending wasn’t important. I said
a) goaltending wasn’t “the problem;” team play (and especially the lack of 200-ft leadership) was the problem;
b) don’t over-pay/over-term your goalies because they pretty much all have good/bad seasons that cannot be guaranteed. Instead, create a defensively responsible (“200-ft”) team that isn’t dependent on goalie heroics (even though everybody wants and needs goalie heroics sometime).
As for “we finally have goaltending…” We shall see what new or rested faces do behind this team. I’m hoping that Jarry comes to camp confident, that Anderson is healthy and has a better season than he had last year (of 98 goalies with more than 20 games he ranked 79th w .874 SV%, and a .457WIN%), and that Levi gets a chance to develop. Oilerville is not a good place for goalies. Even winning goalies get run out of town.
I think you’re oversimplifying a tad.
First of all, he’s had dozens of coaches over the years, I’m sure he knows the type of button pusher he prefers. That’s not to say it’s going to work for the rest of the gang, but he’s the leader, so it’s on the team to follow.
Second, I know you’re new to Oilerville, so I’m not sure how long you’ve been watching Connor’s career (think it’s been a few seasons or so). But to suggest he hasn’t learned along the way or implemented new strategies/tactics to improve his game is patently false. One standout is how he learned to implemnet his blitzkrieg attack after breaking his clavicle. Another would be face offs. Or shooting more. Etc. Connor is essentially the definition of the consummate professional; a true student of the game.
To your point about a 200ft game, yes, sure. It would behove ALL players to channel their inner Gainey/Bergeron/Zetterberg. What I’d really like to see Connor do more is utilize his teammates as a force multiplier so he gains an advantage so much better, and more frequently. Maroon understood the assignment, Hyman took the ball and ran with it, Nuge has looked good, great even, at times with Connor.
I think what Connor needs to do more is what Leon does so often; elevate the game of his teammates so he can thrive.
Savoie and Clatt.
Savoie cost a good player but provided some higher upside and a few cheaper years. Matty’s floor is a solid 2-way complimentary scoring winger with PK. Can he pop for 70 points at some point? Maybe.
Clatt has attributes that can impact in this league. Notwithstanding a wasted second half of last season, he had a prominent first year pro. He has work to do in Bako but if he does it, he will play in this league. A great draft pick at his slot.
HH mentioned Savoie would reach 74 points “in his dreams”, so I expect his curse will bring it to fruition either this season or the next.
Can you name a 5’10” 179 winger who doubled his production at the age of 22?
I urge you to take a reading comprehension class.
Jesper Bratt Age 23 5’10 175 – 30 points -> 73 points
Arviddson at age 23. 16-> 61. Almost 4x
Conor Sheary at 24 10 -> 53 5x
Yanni Gourde age 26 8 -> 64 points
Zuccarello Age 26 8-> 59 points
Marchessault Age 26 18-> 51 points
Shear was playing with Sid, Savoie would have to play with a generational talent or something……
Not one of those was 22.
Neither are you, and yet you persist
Yes https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=18067
Yep https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=80463
Uh huh https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=106595
yeah man https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=117131
oh yeah https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=117574
oh snap https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=35504
Is this enough? https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=73254
Your problem is you ask the question and assume the answer. That is why you fail.
How old was Marty when he popped?
Oh, so a player can pop at 26 but not 22? Is that the hill you want to die on? Do you think that saves you? Please, in great detail, explain how a player that made the NHL at 21 is ONLY capable of popping at age 26 and not at age 22. Great detail. Can’t wait.
It’s wild how wrong you can be and still think we aren’t laughing at you.
Maurice Richard.
Why would I dig in to some irrelevant question?
Read the post again and maybe try to read it with honestly instead of looking for a way to be negative towards the Oilers. You will note the words “at some point” – clearly included to provide the context that at some point in his career he may pop to 70 points and not saying it was likely this season.
Good Grief.
Savoie and Howard are trade bait.
The sooner the better.
Yes, we know Verdad, now that Nurse and Skinner are gone, your teeth are in these two and you post about nothing else.
For me, I think young players on their ELCs outperforming their cap hit is a great thing and of immense value and I look forward to Savoie doing so this year and Howard doing so for two years.
Young. Fast/quick. Talented. Cheap. More, please.
The panic around the “McD window” drove the team to get older, fast. If McD, or any talented player, is to stay to win, I suggest the talent and excitement of young, fast, hard-working players is part of the mix that makes this team attractive.
Brad Marchand was a good example though I dont think he was 22 he was 21
Toot! Toot! Toot! Never too late to board the Clattenburg train.
I’ve never not been on the train – I hope he gets it back on the tracks come September.
He will have plenty of good competition
Live a little Cowboy hitch a horse to another longshot prospect. Yours and OP can’t miss prospect Noah Philp is long gone he didn’t even leave a forwarding address that he could be reached at.
Oh, he won’t be on the team come September 29, that’s for sure – I mean, he’s not on the Oilers over any of Howard, Samanski, Joseph, Jones or Jamnarm, right?
He’s also behind Hutson and maybe Marjala and maybe Tralmaks and maybe even Michaels. I know he has a much different skill set and the org may want to call him up over any of those in this second tier at some point this season and, if he does the work he needs to be for the rest of 2026, that could happen.
In my opinion.
Connor was Captain on Flint not many straight-up thugs ever have that honor. Connor can skate and he does seem to have a surprising knack around the net. Connor did a good job when called up. He never cost the team from what I seen. Obviously the Oilers told him what to work on in the AHL while sending him down. I think it was a combination of Connor coming off injury and trying too hard in the 2nd half. If you geld Connor I don’t think he’ll ever see another NHL game.
Please! I haven’t heard a word about gelding here. On another blog, perhaps?
I remember like yesterday what a mistake it was when coach-player Paul Newman tried to tone down the Hanson Brothers.
Tone them down? I thought he was winding them up. Probably threatened to geld them if they failed to draw the opponent’s blood!
Connor was the captain on Frlint – that’s a fact. That’s irrelevant to his ability to play in the NHL right now.
He can skate and does have decent hands (although he missed a second tap in goal, remember) which give him a chance.
He did do a good job as he actually played within a structure and didn’t run around hunting – basically the opposite of what he did up on re-assigment to Bako,
I’m sure the org did tell him what to work on and, well, he didn’t do any of it and that is also according to his coach who, multiple times told us “we are trying to get Connor to play hockey” – he didn’t do that, he got himself demoted down the lineup behind ECHL call-ups, hurt (again) and then not able to get back in the lineup for the playoffs once cleared.
He didn’t do what was asked and he didn’t do what made him a non-liability in the NHL.
Remember, the last time we saw Clatt on the ice, he was playing 4th line behind ECHL call-ups (for weeks) and then he was hurt and then healthy scratched and then seen in a walking book at development camp – these are just the most current facts.